Nigerian Community Defends Foreigners in South Africa

The Nigerian community in South Africa, represented by the Igbo Union, issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recurring hostility towards foreign nationals, particularly Africans. They warned that this trend reflects deeper structural challenges rather than the presence of migrants.

Ezeanozi Eleberi, the national secretary of the Igbo Union, stated that the situation is not new and is rooted in economic frustrations and government failures, misdirecting public anger towards foreigners. The statement clarified that foreign nationals are not the cause of South Africa's socio-economic difficulties, highlighting issues such as unemployment, inequality, crime, and poor service delivery.

The group referenced Nigeria's historical support for South Africa during the apartheid era and emphasized that blaming foreigners for crime lacks credible evidence. They called for South African authorities to take decisive action against violence and intimidation towards migrants and urged community leaders to reject misinformation.

The statement also noted the need for accountability within corrupt institutions and reaffirmed the potential of South Africa as a great nation.